Families aren't always straightforward. These relationships can be tricky to navigate and maintain. Fame adds an extra level of stress to things. It's not easy being the parent or family member of a celebrity.
The 10 celebs on this list have had trouble with their family dynamics. Some have managed to mend fences while others still remain estranged. Things are not always simple when it comes to relationships.
Leighton Meester and her mom
No this is not an episode of Gossip Girl</em>; it's Leighton Meester's real life. Leighton was actually born while mom Constance Meester was in jail for smuggling drugs. In 2011, Leighton and Constance sued each other over money. Constance claimed Leighton had promised her $10,000 a month for the rest of her life. She even claimed her daughter struck her with a bottle.
Leighton claimed Constance used the $7,500 stipend she sent on cosmetic procedures instead of on her brother's medical expenses like it was intended. The court sided with Leighton and said she didn't owe her mother anything. Neither woman has publicly commented about their relationship since.
Oliver and Kate Hudson and their biological dad
Famous siblings Oliver and Kate Hudson are the children of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson. Their parents divorced when Kate was just a couple of months old. Bill was not present as a father, and the siblings consider Kurt Russell their real father figure. In 2015, Oliver even posted a picture of himself, Kate, and Bill on Father's Day and called him out on abandoning them.
Bill fired back and disowned the siblings. More recently there seems to be a more open line of communication between the three but it remains complicated.
More from CafeMom: Oliver Hudson Says He Experienced Childhood 'Trauma' From Mom Goldie Hawn
The Jonas Brothers
Brothers Nick, Kevin, and Joe Jonas got a band together in 2005 and wooed fans by appearing on many Disney Channel offerings. They seemed to be on top of the world, but Nick surprised his brothers in 2013 by saying he wanted out. Joe and Kevin didn't see this coming and took things personally.
"It didn’t go so well," Nick recalled about breaking the news. "I feared that, you know, we — they would never speak to me again."
Thankfully this story has a happy ending. The band got back together in 2019 and has been jamming ever since.
Adele and her dad
Adele's father, Mark Evans, struggled with alcoholism. She tried to keep that part of her story out of the press, but in 2011 he gave an interview to The Sun. She wasn't too happy about this and it caused a rift in their relationship. Before Mark's death in 2021 the pair were able to find forgiveness and peace.
Heather Graham and her parents
Heather Graham's parents, Joan and James Graham, raised her in a strict Irish Catholic manner. When Heather had her say about the way she wanted to live her life, she moved away from these beliefs. This all went down around the time she began filming the 1997 film Boogie Nights. James believes the film "destroyed" their family.
Jay-Z and sister-in-law Solange Knowles
In 2014 there was major drama at a Met Gala afterparty between Jay-Z and sister-in-law Solange Knowles. She attacked him in an elevator, and security and Beyoncé herself had to get involved. According to People, Solange was triggered after an encounter with fashion designer Rachel Roy, the woman many believe Jay-Z cheated on Beyoncé with. It appears the family has resolved this issue because 10 days later they released a joint statement saying they had apologized to each other.
Matthew McConaughey and his mother
Alright, alright, alright. Matthew McConaughey's role in the 1986 film A Time to Kill made him a household name. Mom Mary McCabe didn't handle this well and began telling the press personal stories. She even had Hard Copy over for a tour of the family home.
Matthew did not appreciate this, and the pair didn't talk for eight years as a result. Eventually, the mom and son duo were able to work things out. She now has free rein to talk to the press whenever she wants.
Jennifer Aniston and her mother
Jennifer is in a similar situation as Matthew but her mom, Nancy Dow, took it even further. She wrote a tell-all book called From Mother and Daughter to Friends. This didn't make Jen happy, and the pair had a falling out.
They did get back on speaking terms before Nancy's death in 2016. In 2022, Jennifer opened up to Allure about the whole situation. "I forgave my mom. I forgave my father. I’ve forgiven my family," she concluded.
Madonna and her brother
Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone had some issues with his sister's artistic and lifestyle choices. He hated when she rolled around on their mother's grave in her documentary Truth or Dare. He thought she should have done more financially for their grandma.
He published a whole tell-all book about his grievances called Life With My Sister Madonna. The siblings reconciled for the sake of their dad. Christopher confirmed this in 2019 to RadarOnline.
Drew Barrymore and her mother
Drew was born into a Hollywood family, but with that came lots of partying. Her parents, Jaid and John Barrymore, were actors and had to be seen, of course. Jaid took young Drew to all the hot spots of the day including Studio 54.
Drew eventually made the hard decision to legally emancipated herself from her parents when she was 14 and cut her parents out of her life. She reconciled with her dad before his death in 2004 and has reconnected with her mom.
Angelina Jolie and dad Jon Voight
Angelina Jolie is the daughter of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Jon cheated on Marcheline, which ended their marriage. Jon was not around much when Angelina was growing up. As an adult, their relationship got so bad that she changed her last name in 2002, dropping Voight.
They mended fences in 2009. Jon has tried to be there for Angelina during her messy divorce from Brad Pitt, helping with the kids.
